The Next MC Journey

Jiyushi, a great seaside city from the Kala Saga, is now broken. Fire eats its markets and wooden houses, making the docks glow red. The air is full of smoke, salt, and the sharp smell of blood. Distant sounds of ships falling apart, shouts of fear, and metal hitting metal fill the air. Above, dark clouds swirl with evil power, taking over the city that was once full of music, trade, and freedom.

Reika, younger and clad in her classic crimson robe, stands amidst the chaos, her staff trembling in her hands. Her face is streaked with soot and tears, her eyes wide with horror. Around her, Reina's party—her family—fights desperately against an overwhelming tide of demonic forces

She cried out for her friends. Reika's voice, sharp with desperation

Reika:

「アタシの爆裂魔法で、決めるわよ！」

("atashi no bakuretsu mahō de , kimeruwayo!")

("I'll decide with my explosion magic!")

Magic gathered around her staff, a promise of destruction. But a sudden blow struck her down.

The staff clattered against the cobblestones, its echo lost in the roar of battle. Blood streaked across her lips as she staggered to her knees.

All around her, chaos raged. Sui, her divine aura flickering like a dying flame, was surrounded by a swarm of Goblin Demons. Their jagged blades tore through her fading light as she cried out in desperation.

Yasha, bruised and bloodied, still stood firm before a group of fleeing civilians. Her shield cracked under the weight of a massive demon's axe—but even as she fell, her eyes never wavered.

At the heart of the inferno, Reika searched for Reina.

But the heroine she once knew was gone.

Through the smoke and burning streets, a shadow stepped forward. From the haze emerged Reina Demon—her eyes glowing an unnatural red, her body wrapped in dark, pulsating energy. The warmth, courage, and sarcasm Reika once knew had vanished, replaced by an emotionless void.

Reina Demon gripped a blackened bow, its surface veined with moving shadows. Without a word, she raised it, and an arrow of pure darkness materialized, humming with lethal power.

Reika froze.

Reika:

「レイナ...いやだ、行かないで!」

(Reina... iyada, ikanaide!)

(Reina... no, don't go!)

Her words vanished into the crackle of flames.

For one brief moment, Reina Demon’s eyes flickered—as if something human still remained beneath the curse.

Then the arrow flew.

Sharp. Silent. Final.

It struck through the battlefield, tearing past Reika and cutting down the last hope of Reina’s party.

Sui fell moments later, her divine aura shattered beneath the swarm of Goblin Demons. Yasha’s shield cracked under the weight of a massive demon’s axe, but even as she collapsed, her eyes never wavered.

Reika screamed their names, but the burning city swallowed her voice.

The Goblin Demons howled, their guttural laughter echoing through the ruined streets as they closed in on her.

She ran.

Her robe was torn, her staff broken. Tears blurred her vision as Axel burned behind her—the screams of its people fading into the roar of flames. In her trembling hand, a glowing purple teleportation stone pulsed weakly, her last hope.

Her voice broke as she chanted, her mana nearly gone.

Reika:

「転移の光よ、我を導け！」

(Ten'i no hikari yo, ware o michibike!)

("Light of teleportation, guide me!")

The stone flared, flooding the street with violet light.

A portal tore open, spiraling violently as Reina Demon lunged through the smoke. A slash of dark energy grazed Reika’s leg.

Before the pain could register, the light consumed her—

—and Reika vanished.

The flashback shattered.

Reika gasped, her eyes snapping open. She was back in the hospital room, her chest heaving, fingers clutching the bedsheets. Sweat beaded on her forehead as the scythe fragment pulsed wildly on the bedside table, responding to her fear.

Her crimson eyes were hollow, haunted by the memories of her fallen comrades—and by the image of Reina’s corrupted face.

Her hand trembled as she reached for the fragment, fingertips brushing its cold surface. Her voice came out as a broken whisper.

Reika:

「...みんな...レイナ...ごめんなさい...」

(Minna... Reina... gomennasai...)

(Everyone... Reina... I'm sorry...)

The door creaked open.

Andi stepped inside, the Thunder Gloves tucked under his arm and the teleportation stone warm in his pocket. He froze mid-step. Something in the air had changed.

Reika sat upright, her posture tense. Her fingers clutched the sheets as if to anchor herself to reality. A single tear traced down her cheek, catching the sunlight. Her hazel eyes, once sharp and distant, were now clouded with grief. Beside her, the scythe fragment pulsed faintly—its rhythm syncing with her unsteady breath.

Andi hesitated, reading the silence. His instincts told him this wasn't the time for questions. He moved closer, slow and steady, his voice low and careful.

Andi:

Lu aman, Rei?

("You okay, Rei?")

The sound of his voice pulled her back from the edge. Reika turned her gaze toward him, her eyes reflecting a storm she couldn't yet put into words. For a heartbeat, the distance between their worlds felt smaller—two survivors bound by loss neither could fully explain.

Andi:

...elo barusan ngeliat something yang berat banget.

("It's like... you just saw something heavy.")

He hesitates, then tries Japanese—his accent awkward, but his sincerity unmistakable.

Anata... daijoubu? Nani wo mita no?

("You... okay? What did you see?")

He put down the Thunder Gloves and sat, watching her. Not staring, just... there. His eyes showed he felt her pain.

Reika spun around, feeling danger! But Andi's calm face stopped her fear. She breathed out, hands loose. The scythe piece glowed with her hurt. The room buzzed. Reika fought a hidden battle.

Then, her red eyes flashed violet. Purple marks grew on her skin, like magic. The air turned cold. She changed into a Reaper, scary and beautiful.

Andi froze, seeing her Reaper Form for the first time. His eyes grew wide, part wonder, part fear. Her violet eyes seemed to look right through him, and the glowing runes pulsed with the scythe light.

Andi:

Gila... ini... Reaper Form lu?

("Damn... this... your Reaper Form?")

He shifted back a bit, street smarts warning him. But he stayed, curious and determined.

Andi:

lo... beneran beda banget dari Reika yang gue baca, anjir.

(You're…. seriously so different from the Reika I read about, damn.)

Violet eyes met his, Reika both brave and fragile. The Reaper vanished fast, leaving red eyes and bare skin. Tired, she sank into the pillows, her voice soft and rough.

Reika:

「ワタクシ...変わったわ。過去のワタクシは、もうどこにもいないの。」

("wata kushi ... kawattawa . kako no wata kushi wa , mō doko ni mo inaino . ")

("I...I've changed.. The person I was in the past is no longer anywhere.. ")

She saw the broken scythe. Her fingers wanted to touch it. Then, she looked back at Andi.

「きさま... なぜ、わたくしを助けるの？危ないのに...」

(" ki sama ... naze , watakushi o tasukeruno ？ abunainoni ... ")

("You... why are you helping me? It's dangerous...")

Andi breathed out, shock fading, now seeing her heavy load. He leaned in, voice sure, mixing Indonesian and Japanese, meaning to be true. He spoke Japanese, slow, from the heart.

Andi:

Anata... hito. Anata no sekai... tasuketai.

("You... person. Your world... I want to save.")

He gestures to the gloves and the stone in his pocket.

Makanya gue coba-coba pake nih batu. Buat ngebantu elo, biar gue ngerti juga cerita elo.

("That's why I'm trying to use this stone. To help you, to understand your story.")

Reika's violet eyes dimmed, her past still heavy. Andi's unsure words touched her, a tiny trust sparked after years. She nodded, her voice soft as a breath.

Reika:

「...貴様...フシギね。」

(...Kisama wa... fushigi.)

("...You are... strange.")

Her lips twitch, the faintest hint of a smile breaking through her reaper facade, a glimpse of the old Reika buried deep within.

「だが...感謝する。」

(Daga... kansha suru.)

("But... thank you.")

Andi smiled. Relief and grit shone in his eyes. He lifted the Thunder Gloves, a promise held tight. The scythe shard glowed, calmed by their growing link.

Andi:

You nggak alone lagi, Reika. Kita di sini barengan.

("You're not alone anymore, Reika. We're in this together.")

He touched the rock in his pocket, looked at her again. He wouldn't change his mind.

Wahyu, all healed up, grinned by the wall. Indra, in a chair, smirked back. Aldo stood by the door, ready for trouble. Reika watched, calm as ever, but a tiny smile showed she was curious.

Indra:

Eh ciee~ Andi sama Reika, udah kayak main character anime isekai aja nih yee!

("Ooh~ Andi and Reika, already like the main characters of an isekai anime!")

He winks, nudging Wahyu, who's barely containing his laughter.

Wahyu:

Paling seru liatin Andi bareng cewek, ahay!

("The best part is watching Andi with a girl, woo!")

He makes exaggerated heart-eyes at Andi, then glances at Reika, oblivious to her sharp gaze.

Lu kapan ngajak dia ke arcade, bro?

("When you taking her to the arcade, bro?")

Andi's eyes narrow, his patience fraying. He slowly bends down, reaching for his shoe with a deliberate, menacing calm. The motion is subtle but loaded, his street-smart instincts radiating a warning.

Andi:

... (He says nothing, letting the gesture speak for itself.)

Indra and Wahyu's grins vanish. Their eyes widen in mock terror, and they bolt for the door, stumbling over each other in a comedic scramble.

Andi straightens, holding the shoe, with a confused look. He glances at Reika, who's watching the chaos with a mix of confusion and restrained amusement.

Andi:

Lah, kenapa sih? Gue cuma benerin tali doang...

("What's the deal? I was just tying my laces...")

He tosses the shoe back to the floor, shrugging as if nothing happened.

Aldo sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the others' antics.

Aldo:

Biasa lah.

He glances at Reika, offering a small nod in apology.

「すみませんでした。」

("Sumimasen deshita.")

("Sorry about that.")

Reika's lips twitch, a near-smile breaking through her reaper facade. She responds in Japanese, her tone dry but not unkind.

Reika:

「貴様ら...騒がしいが...悪くない。」

(Kisamara... sawagashii ga... warukunai.)

("You lot... are noisy, but... not bad.")

Her hazel eyes briefly met Andi's, a silent thank you for his care, then looked back at everyone else. Andi sighed, slumping back in his chair near Reika. The teasing had helped, but he still worried about the teleport stone and Thunder Gloves. He glanced at Reika, seeing a small smile, and felt determined to keep going—for her, for her world.

Andi: Tomodachi... noisy, but... good. ("Friends... noisy, but... good.")

Reika barely nods, her wall softening a little. The scythe piece glows steady, like the trust between her and Andi. Quiet fills the room. The others chatter outside, but Andi and Reika stay in their silence. Andi breathes deep, eyes on Reika. Her red eyes meet his, showing trust and sadness, held back by her reaper training. He knows what he'll do: He and his friends will go to Jiyushi to fight what hunts her. She'll be safe in Yogyakarta, healing. His voice is sure, stronger than he thought.

Andi:

ここにいて...安全だよ。俺たちが...そっちの世界に行くから。

("koko ni ite ... anzendayo . oretachi ga ... socchi no sekai ni ikukara.")

("Stay here... It's safe. We're going to... go to your world.")

He clenches the gloves, his resolve unwavering.

Gue janji ya, Reika. Gue bakal nyelamatin temen-temen lo.

("I promise, Reika. I'll save your friends.")

Reika's eyes widen, her reaper facade cracking at his bold promise. She grips the bedsheet, her voice low but laced with emotion.

Reika:

「き、君が... 友達を救ってくれるの？」

(" abunaiyo ... teki wa , mechakucha tsuyoi ndakara ！ " )

("Y-you... are you going to save my friend?")

(She searches his face, her crimson eyes flickering with a mix of hope and disbelief.)

「危ないよ...敵は、めちゃくちゃ強いんだから！」

("Kiken da... teki wa kyoudai da!")

("It's dangerous...the enemy is extremely strong!")

Andi nodded, face serious but kind. He moved near, voice soft and true, surprising all.

Andi: (in Indonesian, earnest) Gua nggak bakal ninggalin lu sendirian, Reika. Kita barengan ngejalanin ini semua.

("I won't leave you alone, Reika. We're in this together.")

He said goodbye to her

Alright... love you, Reika.

Not that words...

The air chills. Reika's eyes grow big, pink tints her face, her cool mask slips. Wahyu gapes, Indra holds back a laugh, Aldo raises an eyebrow, surprised by Andi's brave words. Reika says nothing, but her eyes soften, showing she hears him. Andi coughs, rubs his neck. He looks at his friends, seeing their shocked and amused faces.

Andi: (in Indonesian, trying to move on) Ya jangan diem bangsat! Ayo siap siap!

("Hey, don't just stand there, you jerk! Let's get ready!")

He walks to the door, Thunder Gloves ready. His face is red, but he's set on what to do.

Andi walks by, and Aldo grabs a water bottle. No one knows what he's thinking. He follows to the door, then looks back at Reika.

Aldo:

「気をつけて。」

("Ki o tsukete.")

("Take care.")

He nodded, then went after Andi. He seemed calm, but inside, he was worried and ready to act.

Wahyu and Indra traded looks. Their smiles were gone, the air heavy. Wahyu nodded to Reika, a small, hopeful gesture.

Reika stares at the closed door, her hazel eyes glistening with a mix of gratitude and fear. She clutches the scythe fragment, its glow steadying as she whispers to herself.

Reika:

「アンディ...貴様が本当に...我が仲間を救えるのなら...！」

(" andi ... kisama ga hontōni ... waga nakama o sukueru nonara ... ！ ")

("Andy...if you really can...save my friends...!")

Her voice fades, determination sets firm, yet hope still dances in her eyes.

The faint hum of the scythe fragment lingered in the empty hospital room, its pale glow pulsing like a heartbeat in the dark. The air still carried Reika's unease—fragile, unspoken, yet heavy enough to cling to the walls.

Meanwhile, down the neon-lit corridor, Andi walked alongside Wahyu, Indra, and Aldo. Their footsteps echoed with quiet resolve, the sterile lights flickering overhead as if unsure whether to bless or warn them. None of them said a word, yet all shared the same thought—whatever waited beyond this world, they were stepping into it together.

* * *

12:23 PM

The group is gathered in Aldo's modest living room, the air buzzing with a mix of excitement and tension. The space is cluttered with gaming consoles, anime posters, and a coffee table now covered with supplies—backpacks, water bottles, energy bars, and a few makeshift weapons like baseball bats and a crowbar. Sunlight streams through the cracked window, illuminating the group's determined faces. The teleportation stone sits on the table, its purple glow pulsing faintly, and Andi's Thunder Gloves hum softly beside it.

Wahyu stands in the center, his usual goofy energy replaced by a surprising air of authority. As the group's resident Kala Saga expert, he's taken it upon himself to brief everyone on the Fantasy World. Indra and Aldo listen intently, while Andi adjusts the Thunder Gloves, his focus split between Wahyu's briefing and the stone's ominous energy.

Wahyu:

Ok, dengerin baik-baik nih, bro. Fantasy World, dunia Kala Saga: Elaruna, itu bukan sekadar tempat petualangan seru ala-ala anime gitu. Ini dunia keras, men—ada monster, demon, plus sistem energi elemen yang bikin idup auto susah kalo lo nggak punya skill.

("Alright, listen up, dude. Fantasy World, the world of Kala Saga: Elaruna, it's not just some anime-style adventure spot, ya know? This world's tough, man—there are monsters, demons, and an elemental energy system that makes life automatically hard if you don't have skills.")

He paces, gesturing what he understand.

Kota utama, Jiyūshi tuh, emang pusatnya para traveler. Tapi Reika bilang Jiyūshi udah ancur lebur, so, bisa jadi kita bakal nyemplung ke situasi yang absurd abis. Musuh utama yang ngejar dia, most likely sih sisa-sisa pasukan Demon King... atau something yang lebih parah, kayak Reina versi setan gitu deh.

("The main city, Jiyūshi, is like, usually a hub for travelers. But Reika said Jiyūshi's totally wrecked, so, we might be walking into some seriously messed up stuff. The main baddies after her are probably remnants of the Demon King's army... or something even worse, like some demon version of Reina or something.")

Indra, slinging a backpack over his shoulder, raises an eyebrow, his usual smirk tempered by curiosity. He grabs a crowbar, twirling it playfully.

Indra:

So, kita beneran masuk game RPG lalu kita bakal dapet status screen kayak Reina gitu?

("So, are we seriously getting sucked into an RPG and getting status screens like Reina?")

Aldo stuffed water into his bag. He frowned, but a smile played on his lips.

Aldo: Fokus deh, Dra ama Yu. Terus, apalagi nih yang kudu kita tau? Kayak musuh gitu, or... safe place?

("Dra and Yu, focus! So, what else do we need to know? Like, who's the enemy, or... where's the safe spot?")

Wahyu nods, his expression growing grim as he digs deeper into his Kala Saga knowledge.

Wahyu: (continuing)

Elaruna tuh luas banget—ada hutan, rawa, gunung—dan tiap tempat ada monster spesifiknya gitu. Goblin Demon yang Reika bilang, itu bukan goblin kaleng-kaleng ya. Mereka tuh lebih GG, geraknya barengan, terus pake senjata lagi. Kalau Jiyushi beneran ancur, bisa jadi kita ketemu mereka di reruntuhan, cuy.

("Elaruna is seriously massive, man—forests, swamps, mountains—and each spot has its own specific monsters. Those Goblin Demons Reika mentioned aren't your run-of-the-mill goblins, ya know? They're way OP, move as a team, and they even use weapons. If Jiyushi really gets wrecked, we might bump into them in the ruins, dude.")

He points to the teleportation stone.

Itu batu emang bisa buka portal, but Reika bilang musuh bisa nge-detect energy-nya. So, kita musti gercep, masuk, cari info soal temen-temennya, cabut before ketahuan.

("So, that stone can actually open portals, but Reika said the enemy can detect its energy. So, we gotta move fast, get in, find info about her friends, and bail before we get caught.")

Andi, now fully suited up with the Thunder Gloves, listens closely, his jaw tight. He picks up the teleportation stone, its glow intensifying in his grip. The weight of his promise to Reika presses on him, but he channels it into focus.

Andi:

Okay jadi gini, yang penting sekarang kita cari tau dulu nih, itu party-nya Reika—Reina, Sui, Yasha—kenapa bisa kejadian gitu. Ya, at least kalo emang... mereka udah ga ketolong, ya kita kasih tau Reika biar dia ga penasaran lagi.

("Okay, so like, first things first, we gotta figure out how Reika's party—Reina, Sui, Yasha—ended up like that. Yeah, at least if... they're beyond help, we'll tell Reika so she's not left wondering.")

He looks at the group, his voice firm.

Lo semua siap?

("You guys ready?")

Indra and Wahyu, serious now, just nod. No jokes. Packs on backs, stuff inside. Aldo makes his bag tight. He's cool, keeps them steady.

Indra: Lo belum tau gue bisa tabok mereka pake ini? HAHAHA!

("You ain't seen nothin' yet, I can smack 'em with this, HAHAHA!")

Wahyu:

"Alah, gue mah lebih jago lah, apalagi gue apal banget nih anime! Lo bisa apa emangnya?" ("I've memorized Kala Saga lore. We're gonna be the strongest party, bros!")

Indra:

"Solo kill gue jago! Lo mah bisanya cuma coli di kamar!"

("I'm a pro at solo kills! You just can cum in your room!")

Aldo Snorts and look away

Wahyu:

"The fuck jangan umbar aib gue bangsat!"

("The fuck, don't go blabbing my private stuff, bastard!")

Andi breathed deep, Thunder Gloves on. They buzzed, showing "Thunder System Online" in the air. He held the purple teleport stone, its light growing as he used the gloves. The room popped with energy, a hum growing louder.

Fist clenched, purple sparks flew from the gloves. A dark purple portal ripped open, swirling with strange energy. The group recoiled, faces lit by the portal's glow.

Wahyu:

Siap siap nih boy!

("Get ready boys!")

Andi glances at his friends, his expression a mix of determination and quiet fear. He steps toward the portal, the Thunder Gloves crackling in his hands.

Andi: (firm)

Kuy, Kita berangkat.

("Come on, let's go.")

The group exchanged a single nod, their resolve silently forged in that fleeting moment of understanding. Indra tightened his grip on the worn crowbar, its metal humming faintly as if resonating with the energy in the air. Wahyu adjusted the straps of his backpack, the soft clatter of tools echoing like a heartbeat in the sterile hallway. Aldo drew a long breath, his expression calm but eyes glinting with a quiet fire.

Andi stepped closer to the portal, the glow painting his face in ripples of violet and blue. The air trembled—alive, aware—like the world itself was watching.

Together, they crossed the threshold.

The hum rose into a roar, swallowing light, sound, and breath. For a heartbeat, there was nothing—only silence and the faint echo of their steps dissolving into the void. Then, in that stillness, a whisper drifted through the ether.

Welcome to Kala saga.

[Prolouge end]

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